Chapter Four

Around 8 p.m. the same day, James returned staggering as he plodded towards the house. His face was filled with pain, his mind absent from his surroundings.

He had just left the bar where had spent the whole day. Harper's actions dealt great damage to him as he lost hope in ever finding love.

He got to the door, and something caught his attention. On the entrance was a blue bag, a traveling bag packed to the brim. He rolled his eyes and forced himself to consciousness. As he tried to confirm the bag, the door opened, revealing Harper and her angry mother. 

Their glare of disdain hung over their faces as if to shoot him through the eyes. A mere look at Harper, he realized that she had a bruise on her left cheek, that was a result of the slap he gave her. 

Immediately, he felt bad for his actions. Even though he was in pain for her betrayal, he blamed himself for slapping her so hard. 

“Hey baby, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hit you back. Please forgive me,” he said, his voice soothing and filled with remorse.

Harper scoffed and rolled her eyes. She stepped forward, fixating her gaze in his eyes.

“Fuck you!" She half yelled, her voice fierce but barely above a whisper.

She slammed a brown document into his chest, pushing him gently on the chest and he staggered backward. He held the document and darted his eyes back to her but she was looking in the other direction.

As he took a little trip through the papers, he closed his eyes and shook his head in regret. 

“You want a divorce?" He asked, but there was no response from Harper. Even though he had expected it, he felt disheartened.

He was surprised at how she could come up with the document so quickly. Unless she was already planning to divorce him before today.

He sighed and wiped his eyes gently.

“Look babe, can we talk this out? A divorce might not be the best option you think it is. I know you're mad at me for hitting you, but you hit me first. I'm not even talking about how you betrayed my feelings." 

“My point is let's just go inside and talk things through ok?” He urged, but Harper scoffed.

“We're done, James. Sign the papers and get your ass out of my house! Nobody wants you anyway, you're a sore loser,” Harper said, and James scoffed. 

He tried to reach out to Harper, but Mrs. Georgina Williams stepped forward, blocking his path. 

“Come on, James. Sign the damn paper! You're not wanted in my family. Don't you even think of hitting me or my daughter again, because I'll call the cops on your ass. Crazy butthole!” 

“All you know is to hit women. You're not providing shit for this family. When it comes to beating my daughter, then you can show your masculinity! You useless coward. You're just a pathetic fool with no future.”

“Look at you, James. Your wife is the manager of a prestigious company in the country. You, you're just a delivery man. You're not suitable for my daughter. Even if you should work for the rest of your useless life, you can never catch up to her level.”

“So, please! Sign the damn papers and let's call this marriage off already! You can take your parasitic self somewhere else and find who will feed and provide for you," she said in an angry voice. 

James stood embarrassed, his attempt to call for a mature conversation was met with abuse and ridiculous mockery. 

Just in time, a cab drove by and stopped right in front of the house, and all their gaze turned towards the car when Jerry Williams alighted from the car.

He was Harper's big brother. On seeing him, Harper jumped from the staircase and ran to him with a blissful smile. After a heartwarming reunion, James stared at them as Harper whispered some words to Jerry, and his gaze suddenly went cold.

He handed his bag to her and walked up to James with his fist folded for action. 

On seeing him approaching, James rolled his eyes and noticed a few neighbors standing by the corner and watching the scene with curiosity.

He felt embarrassed and he lowered his gaze to avoid them.

“What up bruh? What the fuck is wrong with you? You heard my sister's request. How about you sign the damn papers and walk away while you still can?” Jerry taunted, and James scoffed. His expression was cold and embarrassment was all over his face. 

Jerry never liked James for once. He always stood with Mrs. Georgina Williams whenever she ridiculed and maltreated James. When he left to seek a job in Texas, James felt happy because there was less trouble for him. 

As he approached James with fury in his eyes, James didn't appear scared. Instead, he seemed more concerned with the public's attention. 

He shook his head, his hand shivering as he placed his pen on the paper. He left his signature, and immediately, he felt a touch of ice puncture his lungs.

“Good for you!" Jerry said and snatched the document from him. He handed it to Harper, and she was basking in a smile and delight as she took it from him. 

Her happiness was priceless as she glanced at the document with a heartwarming smile, seeing James's signature written on it. 

James went for his bag lying on the floor, but Jerry quickly picked it up and handed it over to him with a friendly smile. 

James chuckled back and nodded his head in appreciation, but as he went to get it from his hand, Jerry threw it back to the ground before him, staring at James with a mocking smirk. 

“What up bro? You want something ?" He taunted, but James ignored his words. He bent down to pick up the bag, and Jerry kicked it off amidst laughter. 

James raised his brow, and his gaze met with Jerry's glare. Seeing James in anger, Jerry charged forward for a fight. He grabbed James by the neck, but James effortlessly flipped him over and slammed him to the floor. 

Before he could get up, James sent a straight punch to his forehead, and he passed out on the ground.

There was a cheering and mocking sound from a few people standing over the side, but James ignored them. He picked up his bag and walked away, leaving Jerry knocked out, and Harper and her Mom kneeling beside him, doing everything they could to revive him. 

Walking out of the scene, James felt bitter. Harper's success was a result of his help, but it fueled her vanity and arrogance. His role was more like a househusband who didn't need to work because he had professionals handling his work for him. 

All he ever wanted was to give her a happy home, but she was never satisfied. He had planned to reveal himself to her in their candle night which he prepared last night, but she was busy elsewhere. 

He could've made her the chairman of the company, thereby relinquishing the company to her, however, fate had said otherwise. 

Harper watched as he left underneath the dark clouds, with the wind obstructing her clear view. She swallowed, her gullet betraying her guilt even though she tried not to look concerned.